{{Infobox ancient site , name = ''Vicus Patricius'' , native_name = , native_name_lang = , alternate_name = , image = Monti - via Urbana 1010033.JPG , image_size = 300 px , alt = , caption = The historical route of Via Urbana in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

, which overlaps the former ''Vicus Patricius'', the "residential" road leading down to the

Suburra The Suburra, or ''Subura'' (unknown etymology), was a vast and populous neighborhood of Ancient Rome, located below the ''Murus Terreus'' on the '' Carinae'' and stretching on the slopes of the Quirinal and Viminal hills up to the offshoots of th ...

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, region =

Regio IV Templum Pacis The Regio IV Templum Pacis is the fourth regio of imperial Rome, under Augustus's administrative reform. Regio IV took its name from the Temple of Peace built in the region by the emperor Vespasian. It includes the valley between the Esquiline ...

, Regio VI Alta Semita , type = Urban street , part_of = , length = , width = , area = , volume = , diameter = , circumference = , height = , builder = , material = , built = , abandoned = , epochs =

Ancient Rome In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 B ...

, cultures = , dependency_of = , occupants = , event = , discovered = , excavations = , archaeologists = , condition = , ownership = , management = , public_access = , other_designation = , website = , architectural_styles = , architectural_details = , notes = Vicus Patricius was a street in ancient

, whose route corresponds to that of the present Via Urbana.
It started from the point where the ''

Argiletum The Argiletum (Latin ''Argīlētum''; it, Argileto) was a street in ancient Rome, which crossed the popular district of Suburra up to the Roman Forum, along the route of the current Via Leonina and Via della Madonna dei Monti. On its eastern si ...

'' branched into ''

clivus Suburanus The Clivus Suburanus was a street in ancient Rome. It was an irregular continuation from the Subura valley, rising between the Oppian Hill and the Cispian Hill as far as the Porta Esquilina on the Servian Wall The Servian Wall ( la, Murus Servii ...

'' and '' vicus Patricius'', crossed the Cispian and the Viminal hills and reached the ''

Porta Viminalis The Porta Viminale () was a gateway in the Servian Wall of ancient Rome, at the centre of the most exposed stretch of the wall between the Porta Collina and the Porta Esquilina. These three gates and the Porta Querquetulana were the oldest gates in ...

'' in the

Servian Wall The Servian Wall ( la, Murus Servii Tullii; it, Mura Serviane) was an ancient Roman defensive barrier constructed around the city of Rome in the early 4th century BC. The wall was built of volcanic tuff and was up to in height in places, wide ...

. It probably marked the border between the IV and VI

regions In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

of ancient Rome.
Along its course rose the only temple of Diana to which male people had no access. There was also a ''

domus In Ancient Rome, the ''domus'' (plural ''domūs'', genitive ''domūs'' or ''domī'') was the type of town house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. It was found in almost all the ma ...

'', demolished at the beginning of the reign of

Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius (Latin: ''Titus Aelius Hadrianus Antoninus Pius''; 19 September 86 – 7 March 161) was Roman emperor from 138 to 161. He was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors from the Nerva–Antonine dynasty. Born into a senatoria ...

to erect the Baths of Novatus (''Thermae Novati'' or ''Novatianae''), which were in turn converted, not before the

4th century The 4th century (per the Julian calendar and Anno Domini/Common era) was the time period which lasted from 301 (Roman numerals, CCCI) through 400 (Roman numerals, CD). In the West, the early part of the century was shaped by Constantine the Grea ...

, into the Basilica di Santa Pudenziana.
In 1848, the excavations of another large ''domus'' overlooking the ''vicus'', near the present Via Graziosa, brought to light a

house A house is a single-unit residential building. It may range in complexity from a rudimentary hut to a complex structure of wood, masonry, concrete or other material, outfitted with plumbing, electrical, and heating, ventilation, and air condi ...

of the

Republican era Republican Era can refer to: * Minguo calendar, the official era of the Republic of China It may also refer to any era in a country's history when it was governed as a republic or by a Republican Party. In particular, it may refer to: * Roman Re ...

, decorated with a fresco depicting scenes from the

Odyssey The ''Odyssey'' (; grc, Ὀδύσσεια, Odýsseia, ) is one of two major Ancient Greek literature, ancient Greek Epic poetry, epic poems attributed to Homer. It is one of the oldest extant works of literature still widely read by moder ...

. In the

5th century The 5th century is the time period from 401 ( CDI) through 500 ( D) ''Anno Domini'' (AD) or Common Era (CE) in the Julian calendar. The 5th century is noted for being a period of migration and political instability throughout Eurasia. It saw the ...

, the presbyter Ilicius built a portico (''Porticus Ilicii'') that ran along the ''vicus'' for about 1,300 feet, from the sanctuary of the martyr Hyppolitus (the present church of San Lorenzo in Fonte) up to Santa Pudenziana.Richardson, «''Porticus Ilicii''», p. 314. In the Middle Ages there is news of a church called ''Sancta Euphemia in vico Patricio''.

Notes

Bibliography

*Samuel Ball Platner, "Vici", A Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome, Oxford University Press, 1929, p. 576.

External links

Vicus Patricius
a view of the ''vicus'' in a modeling reconstruction of ancient Rome.
Fragment
of the ''

Forma Urbis Romae The ''Forma Urbis Romae'' or Severan Marble Plan is a massive marble map of ancient Rome, created under the emperor Septimius Severus between 203 and 211. Matteo Cadario gives specific years of 205–208, noting that the map was based on pro ...

'' that is supposed to show a section of the ''Vicus Patricius''. Ancient Roman roads in Rome